Missouri State University and the Greater Ozarks Audubon Society are looking for high school sophomores and juniors who enjoy nature to spend a week this summer learning and having fun in the great outdoors.
They are being invited to apply for GLADE, the Green Leadership Academy for Diverse Ecosystems, to be held at MSU’s Bull Shoals Field Station in Taney County, June 19-25.
“We have a dual mission,” said Celeste Prussia, GLADE assistant director from Ava. “We aim to encourage and develop young environmental leaders in their communities and work to restore critical habitat for endangered species of Missouri.”
The project allows Audubon, MSU, and the Missouri Department of Conservation to join forces in conservation and education. Sixteen students will participate free of charge and will return home with the knowledge, ability, and inspiration to develop environmental projects in their own communities.
In 2010, Katherine Moran of Ava was selected as a participant of GLADE. She is now working with the Ava FFA chapter, her greenhouse class teacher Mrs. Tiffany Kauffman, Master Naturalist Caryn Fox from Ava, and Celeste Prussia of Missouri State to establish a native plant garden for nectar-feeders such as hummingbirds and butterflies.
The garden site is the undeveloped lot of the Ava Art Guild at 301 E. Washington. Katherine and her mentor team presented the planting plan to the Ava Planning & Zoning board last November and the demonstration project was approved unanimously at the meeting.
“The opportunity to participate in GLADE is a wonderful experience,” said Moran, “and brings a deep sense of accomplishment as you undertake your local project.” Katherine and her mentor team are able to apply for up to $500 funding from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks to help with costs associated with her project. “Katie (Katherine) verbalized her project during the GLADE training last summer and we have joined forces to help make her vision become reality,” said Prussia. “Her eagerness and interest in establishing a native plant garden to benefit wildlife and working with the various partners to involve the community demonstrates her leadership potential.
Interested students can get more information and an application at the GLADE website, www.green leadershipacademy.org.
The deadline for GLADE 2011 applications is March 18.
GLADE has been funded by the National Audubon Society’s TogetherGreen program, The North Face Explore Fund, the L-A-D Foundation, and the Community Foundation of the Ozarks.
